As a parent of two young children, by the time I get home from a family holiday I usually need another one to get over it.

Before we've even got to the airport there's been a week's worth of shopping to do - making sure there are enough jars of baby food, nappies, clothes, toys, and the million other kids' essentials needed for a week in the sun.

Then when you get there you spend all day entertaining the little blighters, and sitting in the hotel room (or caravan, or tent) after putting them to bed, you can forget romantic meals out or even a swift trip to the bar.

It's normally a whispered conversation and then off to bed at 9pm ready for the next day.

So a holiday at a hotel designed specifically for families with children - a Kinderhotel in the Austrian Alps - seems a great idea.

Many places cater for children these days, but facilities often seem just tacked on and, although welcome, can still be all too little.

But at Kinderhotels the whole ethos is keeping children happy, which keeps parents happy, too. In fact, if you haven't got kids, you can't stay there.

Arriving at Salzburg Airport we were met by a minibus from the hotel and the first sign of things to come - it came fully loaded with child seats.

After a short trip through stunning scenery of soaring mountains and fast-flowing rivers we arrived at the Hotel Post on the outskirts of the sleepy village of Unken.

I'd expected it to look (as most things designed for children do) like a nightmare plastic cross between Disneyland and McDonald's. But the Hotel Post seemed remarkably adult - a wonderful Austrian chalet set in meadows by an Alpine lake at the foot of forested mountains.

The emphasis on keeping the little ones happy was obvious immediately and our three-year-old son, Jack, was in his element from the moment we arrived.

Jack would have happily spent every day in the hotel. With an extensive adventure playground, indoor soft play area, cinema, indoor swimming pool with splash pool and a children's farm, it had everything kids love all in one place.

And with him so engrossed in having fun we found ourselves relaxing and enjoying ourselves straight away. As one mum said: "I think I've died and gone to heaven!"

But it's not just for older children - babies and tots are fully catered for as well. Everything is done to make your family's stay as perfect and stress-free as possible.

You can pack light as everything from high chairs to buggies and even baby foods is provided free. There is a microwave on each floor (with sterilizer) to heat food and bottles. And the restaurant caters for young appetites with organic purees, fruit and snacks throughout the day.

But the icing on the cake is the childcare facilities. Trained carers are on hand to offer up to 72 hours of free childcare a week - which meant we had spare time during the day to go for a massage in the beauty rooms or splash around in the indoor swimming pool.

We didn't quite make it to the spa and sauna, tempting though it seemed - we'd been warned that Austrians tend to take their steam therapy naked.

But we did take full advantage of the quite frankly amazing Kids Club, which is ideal for young children and babies, and has genuinely lovely staff who speak excellent English.

They even have a special ski school for kids in winter - you can leave them in the club while you take to the piste.

Before I arrived I was sure I would be reluctant to leave either of the children, and that even if I tried to I would be walking out with my toddler attached to my legs, begging me not to go. But as soon as I spent some time there I realised it was five-star care.

We left our two for a morning and in that time Jack went to the farm, did arts and crafts, played on a bouncy castle and paddled in the lake. Meanwhile our six-month-old daughter, Daisy, was overjoyed to be the centre of attention in the baby section of the club, which has cots and a soft play area.

The service also extends to babysitting during the evenings, for a small fee - or the use of baby "radios" which will alert you if the children should wake while you are enjoying the novelty of having a few peaceful drinks in the bar after their bedtime.

Jack and Daisy were so happy at the hotel that we were confident enough to leave them for an afternoon to visit the nearby city of Salzburg, just 40 minutes away.

Beautiful, picturesque, historical Salzburg is famous as the setting for The Sound Of Music, but it's also where Mozart was born. We spent a fabulous few hours exploring its cobbled streets, narrow alleyways, elegant, secluded squares and amazing architecture.

And no one can leave Salzburg without sampling one of its famous pastries in one of the many coffee shops - washed down with Austrian beer, of course.

For fans of the hit musical there is even a Sound Of Music tour which takes you out into the hills to retrace the steps of the Von Trapp family (but be warned, Austrians aren't huge fans of the film because it doesn't really show them in the best light.)

Then it was back to the hotel to make the most of the babysitting service and enjoy a meal in the restaurant. We had a stunning Mediterranean buffet with a salad course, a main meal, three desserts and lots of wine. A perfect evening!

The next day was a scorcher, so in the afternoon we left Daisy in the cool of the Kids Club and took Jack on a visit to an Alpine herb farm high up in the clear mountain air.

Children's carriers were provided, along with a truly memorable meal on the farm's terrace looking down into the valley below. Everything we ate was from the farm, and we were given wonderful organic beer to drink.

In fact, we ate well all holiday. As well as that meal at the farm the hotel food was fabulous - provided buffet-style for maximum convenience.

The amazing breakfast buffets catered for everyone. There was muesli and yoghurt if you are into that kind of thing, but also mounds of waffles, croissants, bacon, rolls, and eggs for a proper slap-up full English.

All the food is organic and much of it is locally produced. And unlike in some hotels the food wasn't whisked away after a couple of minutes, so there was no chance of missing out. But even if you did it was no time at all until the next meal. And throughout the day the hotel provided free hot and cold drinks, and snacks for kids.

In all, it was a perfect family holiday that kept everybody more than happy.

Jack loved every aspect of the hotel and because all the other children seemed so happy too we didn't hear any screaming tantrums or see any harassed parents.

And while it was great to have a few small breaks ourselves during our stay there, it was also lovely to get back with the children, refreshed and revitalised.

From watching our son paddle on a clear lake with a spectacular backdrop of mountains behind him and try horseriding for the first time, to seeing our daughter delight in the baby pool, our time at the Hotel Post has given us some very special memories.

And we've all come back revitalised and, well... relaxed. Which is what holidays are supposed to do.

GETTING THERE..

Louise and her family stayed at the Familien Erlebnis Hotel Post in Unken, which is part of the Kinderhotels group (information and booking line 0845 0822 422 or visit www.kinderhotels.co.uk). Hotel rates start from £79 per adult per day, plus £25 per day for children up to age six, £32 for six to 12-year-olds and £35 for 12 to 15-year-olds.

There are 46 family-run Kinderhotels, each offering slightly different, facilities, but all of a high standard. Most hotels offer free airport transfers. Some even have a doctor on site two days a week.

We flew with Ryanair from Stansted, which takes about one and a half hours, for about £40, but you can get flights for under £10. Ryanair also fly to Salzburg from East Midlands and Liverpool.